Convention co-Chairs respond to 2024 Autumn Budget

The following comment comes from co-Chairs of the Convention of the North, Clare Hayward and Phillippa Williamson, leader of Lancashire County Council, in response to the 2024 Autumn Budget. 

“The North has huge economic potential, just waiting to be unleashed.

“As outlined by the Manifesto for the North, our region has the potential to open up £118bn of growth a year by 2050 by enhancing collaboration in: trade and investment, net zero, innovation, transport, and people and places – and we have heard commitments on these fronts today.

“The Chancellor wants to position Britain as a ‘clean energy superpower’, and she can look to the North as a leader in this space with numerous clean energy assets already developed. Barrow-in-Furness can look forward to being one of 11 new green hydrogen production projects across the UK.

“The commitment to further innovation funding is welcome and we look forward to working with the Chancellor on supporting the wealth of innovation assets across the North.

” We hope this is the first step for accelerated fiscal devolution to all parts of the North. Devolution will be the mechanism that unlocks the region’s growth. We are the experts in what our towns and cities need to grow, and it was positive to receive clarity that integrated settlements will be implemented for Greater Manchester Combined Authority at the start of the 2025-26 financial year, and for the North East, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and Liverpool City Regions from 2026-27.

“All in all, we’re heartened to hear commitments to the North. We will listen to businesses and stakeholders across the North to understand how the proposals could impact them while working more closely with Government to help demonstrate where opportunities and capabilities lie.”